Graphic user interface for a storage system

ABSTRACT

A method for interfacing with a storage system having a plurality of elements, the elements having a visible relationship with each other, and being coupled to a system control unit including a display. The method includes drawing an image of the elements on the display, the image having the visible relationship and modifying the image of one of the elements to represent a property of the element. The method further includes, in response to an input from a user of the storage system to the system control unit, making a change in the property of the element and representing the change in the image.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to data storage systems, andspecifically to a graphic user interface for facilitating operation ofthe system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As demands placed upon data storage systems increase and as the volumeof data processed by the systems also increases, operation of thestorage systems becomes more problematic. One of the aspects ofoperation of storage systems is the interface between an operator of thesystem and the system itself, and attempts to improve the overalloperation by relating to a graphic user interface (GUI) have been madein the prior art. Some of these GUIs use text describing elements of thestorage system, and/or icons depicting the elements, to help theoperator operate the system.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,845,395 to Blumenau et al., whose disclosure isincorporated herein by reference, describes a user interface that allowscommunication with a database. A graphic user interface graphicallyrepresents elements of the storage system, and permits a user to view atopology of the system at user-selectable levels of detail.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,845,344 to Lally et al., whose disclosure isincorporated herein by reference, describes a graphic user interfacethat enables time delays and different configurations to be applied toelements of a storage system.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,839,747 to Blumenau et al., whose disclosure isincorporated herein by reference, describes a graphic user interfacethat permits a user of a storage system to allow or deny access toelements of the system by manipulating graphical representations of theelements.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,751,758 to Alipui et al., whose disclosure isincorporated herein by reference, describes a graphic user interfacethat is claimed to provide clarity and simplicity in screening errors ina data storage system, and in responding to the errors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In embodiments of the present invention, a graphic user interface (GUI)is used to operate a storage system. The storage system comprises aplurality of elements having a visible relationship with each other. Theelements of the storage system are coupled to a system control unitincluding a display. The GUI generates a visually realistic image of theelements which is drawn on the display, the image having the samevisible relationship as the actual elements. The image of one of theelements is modified to represent a property, and/or a property change,of the element. In addition, a user of the storage system may implementthe property change of the element by making an input to the controlunit, typically using a pointing device on the GUI, thereby bothmodifying the image of the element and making the property change. Usingan interactive image of elements of a storage system as the GUI, theimage appearing to be visually realistic and substantially identical tothe physical storage system, improves the ease of operation of thestorage system for the user, and makes the operation more intuitive.

In an embodiment of the invention, the elements of a sub-system of thestorage system are housed in a console, and the GUI typically shows atleast a part of the console. Alternatively or additionally, images ofthe console and/or of the elements are drawn on the GUI asthree-dimensional images.

There is therefore provided, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, a method for interfacing with a storage system having aplurality of elements, the elements having a visible relationship witheach other, and being coupled to a system control unit including adisplay, the method including:

drawing an image of the elements on the display, the image having thevisible relationship;

modifying the image of one of the elements to represent a property ofthe element; and

in response to an input from a user of the storage system to the systemcontrol unit, making a change in the property of the element andrepresenting the change in the image.

Typically, the image is a three-dimensional image.

In an embodiment, the elements are installed in a console, and the imageincludes an image of the console.

Typically, the elements include at least one of an interface module, amanagement module, a non-volatile storage unit, and a power supply.

The method may further include physically coupling the elements togetheraccording to the visual relationship, and conveying the visualrelationship to the system control unit in response to the physicalcoupling.

The property may include at least one of a type, a position, and anoperating parameter of the element.

Typically, making the change in the property includes at least one ofchanging a position of the element, activating the element, deactivatingthe element, copying data to the element, reading data from the element,erasure of data from the element, partitioning of the element, andreconfiguration of data within the element.

The input from the user may include a signal derived in response to theuser moving a pointing device, and the method may further includegenerating the signal in response to at least one of positioning thepointing device and clicking a control comprised in the pointing device.

In one embodiment making the change in the property of the elementincludes the user performing a drag-and-drop operation on the image ofthe element with a pointing device coupled to the system control unit.

In some embodiments the image of the elements appears to the user as arealistic reproduction of the elements, and modifying the image includesconfiguring a modification to the image to appear as realistic to theuser.

There is further provided, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, a graphic user interface for a storage system having aplurality of elements, the elements having a visible relationship witheach other, and being coupled to a system control unit including adisplay, the interface including:

a processor which is adapted to:

draw an image of the elements on the display, the image having thevisible relationship,

modify the image of one of the elements to represent a property of theelement, and

in response to an input from a user of the storage system to the systemcontrol unit, make a change in the property of the element and representthe change in the image.

The present invention will be more fully understood from the followingdetailed description of the embodiments thereof, taken together with thedrawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a graphic user interface (GUI) fora data storage system, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a console in the system of FIG. 1, and an image ofthe console, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 3A-3L show examples of use of the GUI of FIG. 1, according toembodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which is a schematic illustration of agraphic user interface (GUI) 10 for a data storage system 20, accordingto an embodiment of the present invention. System 20 acts as a facilityfor one or more hosts 24 to read data from, write data to, and storedata. System 20 is assumed to comprise one or more physically separatesub-systems 22, and the elements of each sub-system are positioned inone respective location and are typically coupled together using cablesand/or other physical couplings.

Storage system 20 is controlled by a system operator 28 via a systemcontrol unit 11, typically comprising an off-the-shelf personalcomputer. Hosts 24, sub-systems 22, and unit 11 may be coupled using anysuitable communication method known in the art, including wireless,wired, and/or optical communication methods, and are assumed herein tobe coupled by and operate in a network 13.

Control unit 11 comprises a processing unit 16 coupled to a memory 18 ina processor 15, and the processor operates a display 12. By way ofexample, the system operator is assumed to operate control unit 11 usinga keyboard 14 and/or a pointing device 26, which provide operator inputsto the control unit. It will be understood, however, that operation ofthe present invention is not limited to a particular method forinputting to system control unit 11, that any other suitable system forproviding such operator inputs may be used, and that all such systemsare considered to be comprised within the scope of the presentinvention. As is described in more detail below, system operator 28generates an interactive realistic non-iconic image of each physicalsub-system 22 and its elements on display 12, using display software 32stored in memory 18. Display software 32 generates the images to besubstantially similar in texture and color gradations to images producedby photographing the sub-system. Typically the images of sub-system 22and its elements are three-dimensional (3D) images. It will beappreciated that each sub-system 22 typically comprises differentelements, and that each of the sub-systems are typically arrangedphysically differently. By way of example, the description hereinbelowassumes that one of sub-systems 22 comprises a console 34 housingelements of the sub-system, and that display software 32 generates a 3Dimage 30 of console 34.

FIG. 2 illustrates console 34 and image 30 of the console, according toan embodiment of the present invention. At installation of console 34,elements of the sub-system are positioned in racks 48, typicallyindustry-standard racks, for example 19″ racks, of the console. Eachrack 48 comprises a back-plane, mid-plane, or other connecting systemknown in the art such as cables, which mates with the element insertedinto the rack, and via which the element is able to transmit and receivedata.

The elements installed in console 34 comprise three computers 40. By wayof example, each computer 40 is herein assumed to comprise an interfacemodule 43, which acts as an interface between storage system 20 andhosts 24, and a management module 45, which manages operations of thestorage sub-system. Each computer 40 typically includes a processingunit (PU) 42 and a memory 44, the memory typically being used as a cachefor its PU and/or its interface module, as well as for storing softwareused by its computer in operating sub-system 22.

Elements of console 34 also comprise computing units 46 which act asnon-volatile data storage units, and which are herein by way of exampleassumed to be arranged in respective banks 50 of racks 48, and which areused to store data used by the system. Computing units 46 are alsoreferred to herein as non-volatile data storage units 46. Eachnon-volatile data storage unit typically comprises a magnetic diskoperating together with a cache for the disk. It will be appreciatedthat other forms of non-volatile data storage unit, such as compactdisks, magnetic tapes or media, optical media, and/or other mediawherein data may be stored permanently, may be included in one or moreof banks 50, and that all such modes of non-volatile storage are assumedto be comprised within the present invention.

Elements installed in console 34 further comprise power supplies 52,typically uninterruptible power supplies, in respective racks 48.Typically, elements corresponding to computers 40, storage units 46, andpower supplies 52 are installed in other sub-systems 22, in a generallysimilar configuration to that of the elements installed in console 34.In an embodiment of the present invention, the elements of storagesystem 20 are configured to operate with redundancy, so that storagesystem 20 may continue to function on failure of a processor, a storageunit, or a power supply of any specific sub-system 22. The redundancymay be implemented to operate at a local sub-system level, i.e., withinthe sub-system, and/or at a system level, i.e., between sub-systems.

In the following description, unless otherwise stated, console 34 isassumed to comprise three computers 40, 120 storage units 46 arranged ineight banks, each bank 50 having fifteen units, and three power supplies52 which are uninterruptible. To distinguish between similar elements, aletter suffix is added to the identifying numeral. For example, thethree computers of console 34 may be identified as computer 40A, 40B,and 40C.

Image 30 is generated so as to be substantially indistinguishable froman image produced by photographing console 34, so that the imagepresented on display 12 appears to operator 28 as a realisticreproduction of console 34, and not as an iconic reproduction. Image 30is typically a three-dimensional image, and the realism of the image istypically further enhanced using methods well known in the graphic arts,such as varying color dimensions and/or a perspective of the image or apart of the image. Such methods are also applied so thatchanges/modifications in image 30, in response to an input from operator28 as described in more detail below, also appear to the operator asrealistic changes/modifications. In one embodiment of the presentinvention, image 30 is produced using a film or a digital camera, bytaking a photograph of the console. It will be understood that image 30,as represented herein, is a schematic simplified representation of therealistic image presented on display 12.

Display software 32 typically generates image 30 from a skeleton imageof an empty console, which the software populates with images of theelements which have been installed in console 34. The images of theelements are also generated by software 32.

While the description herein, except where otherwise stated, relates toa sub-system 22 in the form of console 34, it will be appreciated thatother sub-systems 22 may be in the form of more than one console, and/ormay be assembled in other physical arrangements. In these cases, animage of a skeleton of the respective physical arrangement is formed bythe display software 32 of the sub-system. The skeleton image may beproduced as a computer-generated image using one or more photographs ofthe sub-system, and/or by an operator such as operator 28 using acomputer graphics program, by methods which are known in the art. Theskeleton image is populated, as is described herein for console 34, withimages of the elements installed in the respective sub-system.

The elements in console 34 have a visual relationship with respect toeach other that is apparent to an observer of the console, and software32 generates the images of the elements to have the same visualrelationship as that of the elements themselves. Hereinbelow, asnecessary, images of an element are differentiated from the elementitself by adding a suffix letter I to the identifying numeral of theelement. Thus, images of computers 40A, 40B, and 40C are labeled 40AI,40BI, 40CI.

Each of the elements installed in console 34 comprises identifyinghardware and/or software, which operates so that when any specificelement has been installed in the console, control unit 11 is able toidentify a type and a position of the element. Control unit 11 is alsoable to detect the absence of any elements in a particular positionwithin console 34. In addition to having identifying hardware and/orsoftware, each type of element comprises information collecting hardwareand/or software, which enables each specific element to gatherinformation regarding the element, and to transmit this information tounit 11. The type of information collected and transmitted is a functionof the element. In the specification and in the claims, informationconcerning a particular aspect of an element that may be collected bycontrol unit 11 is termed a property of the element. Such aspectsinclude, but are not limited to, the type, status, and the position ofthe element, as well as operating parameters of the element. Certainproperties such as the position of the element, and some of theoperating parameters thereof, may be changed. Such changes includecopying of data to the element, reading data from the element, erasureof data from the element, partitioning of the element, andreconfiguration of data within the element. Those skilled in the artwill be able to formulate other possible changes in operating parametersof specific elements, and all such changes are assumed to be within thescope of the present invention. Some aspects of elements are describedin more detail hereinbelow.

For a power supply such as uninterruptible power supply 52, the powersupply typically transmits whether the power supply is supplying powerto console 34 in the absence of line power. If line power is notpresent, the power supply transmits the values of the voltages andcurrents it is supplying and the remaining time it is able to safelycontinue supplying these voltages and currents. If line power ispresent, the power supply transmits this fact to unit 11, together withother relevant information such as how the power supply is able to reactin the case of a line power failure.

Each non-volatile data storage unit 46 typically transmits a totalcapacity of the unit, together with how much of the capacity is beingused. Each storage unit may also transmit a number of primary andsecondary slices that the unit has been partitioned into, primary slicesbeing used to store a first copy of data, and secondary slices beingused to store a backup data copy. Other information that a storage unittransmits typically includes a status of the unit, e.g., whether theunit is in service and available, is booting, has an “OK” or a “failed”status, and/or an average throughput over a predetermined period oftime, an average latency over the predetermined period of time, whetherthe unit is in a process of rebuilding its data, to which cache unit thestorage unit is coupled, and properties of the cache unit.

In an embodiment of the present invention, each storage unit transmitsdata reflecting the activity of the unit, for example, the number ofread and/or write requests handled by the unit in a given time, and/orthe size of data read from or written to the unit in the given time.

Each computer 40 typically transmits data concerning software andhardware it is configured to run, such as the operation or non-operationof each of its management and interface modules such as a capacity ofthe modules, a fraction of the capacity that is being used, and/or anavailability of the module in the case of it being configured to fulfilla redundancy requirement. Each computer 40 may also transmit informationon specific programs designed to run on the computer, and the status ofthe programs, i.e., if the programs are executing correctly or if thereis some problem with the execution. Also transmitted may be dataconcerning the PU of the computer, such as the activity of the PU, andof the memory coupled to the PU, such as, in the case of the memorybeing used as a cache, relevant data concerning the cache use.Typically, such data includes a fraction of “hits” which are successfulin a given time period, i.e., wherein the data requested is alreadypresent in the cache. Typically, one of computers 40 acts as anoperational manager, in which case the other computers 40 are configuredas one or more redundant managers.

The data transmitted from the individual elements of console 34 is usedby control unit 11 to generate graphic information about specificelements of system 20, combinations of specific elements, and about theoverall system. The graphic information is overlaid on image 30. Forcombinations of specific elements, and for the overall system, thegraphic information is typically generated by control unit 11 analyzinga variety of received data from the elements of system 20 to deriveparameters for the required combination and/or the overall system. Thegraphic information may be presented automatically on GUI 10 without anyinput from operator 28, or may be accessed by the operator providing aninput to processing unit 16, typically using a pointing device such asdevice 26.

In addition to transmitting information data to control unit 11, each ofthe elements of console 34 is typically configured to receive managementand control signals from the control unit for operating the element.Such management and control signals include signals that activate,deactivate, update, and/or reconfigure an element, and are typicallyprovided by operator 28 providing an input to GUI 10 on display 12. GUI10 thus acts as a fully interactive monitoring and control interface. Inaddition, because the GUI is substantially visually identical tophysical console 34, the ease of use of the interface is enhanced.

The input provided by operator 28 is typically initiated by the operatorusing pointing device 26 to select a particular element. The selectionmay be by moving the cursor of device 26 over the element, and/or byclicking on the element, the latter being understood to comprise allclicking methods known in the art, including single, double, and trebleclicking, and/or use of left, right, or intermediate pointing devicecontrols. The different forms of selection typically generate differentresponses on display 12, such as generating a menu having one or moreproperties of the selected element that may be chosen for more detaileddisplay by operator 28. The responses are pre-programmed into displaysoftware 32 by a system operator such as operator 28.

An embodiment of the present invention uses device 26 to implement theconcept of “drag-and-drop,” the concept being applied herein by displaysoftware 32 to the images of selected elements. Functions that may beperformed by drag-and-drop include, but are not limited to, copying thecontents of one storage unit 46 to another storage unit 46, moving thecontents from one storage unit 46 to another storage unit 46, andrebuilding or reconfiguring the contents of a storage unit 46. Otherfunctions that may be performed using device 26 on image 30 will beapparent to those skilled in the art, and all such functions are assumedto be included within the scope of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A-3L below show examples of information received from elementsand combinations of elements of console 34, as well as operations thatmay be performed on the elements, the information and the operationsbeing considered to be properties of their respective element orcombination of elements, and being transmitted via GUI 10, according toembodiments of the present invention. It will be appreciated that FIGS.3A-3L are schematic illustrations of changes/modifications that areoverlaid on realistic image 30, and that the overlaidchanges/modifications do not significantly reduce the realism of theunderlying image.

In a diagram 60 in FIG. 3A, computers 40A, 40B, and 40C have transmittedinformation to control unit 11. In image 40AI the image “M” indicatesthat the management module of computer 40A is operational. Images 40BIand 40CI indicate that each respective computer has detected a problemin one of the modules it is running. GUI 10 presents each problem usingspecific problem-detected symbols 62 and 63. Symbol 62 indicates aproblem has been detected in the management module of computer 40B;symbol 63 indicates that a problem has been detected in the interfacemodule of computer 40C. Typically, a level of severity of the problemmay be indicated by applying different colors to each problem-detectedsymbol, and/or by providing another type of visual indication such asconfiguring the symbol to blink and/or change form. Optionally, a nameof a program having the problem, and/or other information relating tothe problem, is displayed together with the symbol. Operator 28 maydetermine further information on the problem detected by using device 26to interrogate a specific computer, for example by pointing to thesymbol 62 displayed on image 40BI. The operator may also activate ordeactivate the computers by pointing/clicking on images 64 or 66 ofpower switches of computer images 40BI and 40CI, and may also activateother elements such as banks 50 or power supplies 52 bypointing/clicking on images of their power switches, exemplified by animage 67 of a switch for one of banks 50.

Image 50AI is shaded, to represent that on display 12 the image of bank50A is colored. Typically, the color represents a state of bank 50A. Forexample, image 50AI may be colored red, while maintaining the underlyingrealism of the image of bank 50A, to represent that the bank has failed.

GUI 10 also indicates that power supply 52C has informed unit 11 that itis being phased out of operation in console 34 by altering a color ofthe image 52CI, the color change being represented by shading in FIG.3A. The operator 28 may determine further information on the problem byusing device 26 to interrogate the power supply, for example by pointingto/clicking on image 52CI.

In FIG. 3B a diagram 65 shows that, on interrogating power supply 52B bypointing to/clicking on image 52BI, GUI 10 displays a message indicatingthe status of the power supply.

In a diagram 70 in FIG. 3C, at a time that computer 40B appears to befunctioning correctly, operator 28 interrogates the computer todetermine the status of the interface module the computer is operating,using device 26 to select image 40BI. In response GUI 10 displays amessage 72 that the module is operating correctly. In a diagram 76 inFIG. 3D, the “M” of image 40AI indicates that the management module ofcomputer 40A is operational. Operator 28 interrogates computer 40C todetermine the status of its management module using image 40CI, and inresponse GUI 10 displays a management program symbol 77 indicating thatthe management module of computer 40C is available, as well as a message78 that the status of the management module is OK.

In a diagram 80 in FIG. 3E, GUI 10 shows that computer 40B has detecteda problem in its management module, GUI 10 indicating the problem byoverlaying a problem-indicating symbol 82 on the appropriate part ofimage 40BI. Computer 40C has detected a problem in the interface moduleit is running, GUI 10 overlaying problem-indicating image 84 on theappropriate part of image 40CI. The “M” of image 40AI indicates that themanagement module of computer 40A is operational. The problem-indicatingsymbols are typically colored with different colors to indicate a levelof severity of the detected problem. At the time that the problems areindicated, operator 28 selects image 40CI to interrogate computer 40Cconcerning its management module, and GUI 10 illustrates with a programsymbol 86 and a message 88 that the status of the management module isOK.

FIG. 3F illustrates information received from disks 46. In a diagram 90,GUI 10 shows that a bank 50A of disks that have failed are rebooting bysurrounding a colored image 50AI with a different colored border 92, Thedifferent colors are shown in FIG. 3F as different shadings.

In a diagram 100 in FIG. 3G, GUI 10 indicates that bank 50A has informedunit 11 of a problem by coloring image 50AI. Operator 28 may interrogateeach of the units in bank 50A, by pointing to/clicking on its respectiveimage in image 50AI. By way of example, diagram 100 shows that onpointing to image 46AI of storage unit 46A, operator 28 receives amessage 102 giving details of the unit and of the problem.

In a diagram 110 in FIG. 3H, GUI 10 shows that console 34 has beenreconfigured from the configurations of FIGS. 3A-3G. Console 34 nowcomprises three computers 40A, 40B, and 40C, and six banks 50 of storageunits, each bank consisting of five storage units 46. Typically thereconfiguration is performed by operator 28 using device 26 to closedown the other ten storage units in each bank, by clicking on theiron/off switches. By way of example, a disk in the fourth bank of disksis illustrated as being interrogated by pointing to its image 46BI, anda message 112 giving details of the disk displays on GUI 10.

In an embodiment of the present invention, control unit 11 presentsmetrics of the behavior of the elements comprised in console 34 on image30, the metrics being presented in a graphical and/or pictorial form andoverlaid on the image. FIGS. 3I and 3J illustrate examples of suchmetrics. The metrics are typically derived by control unit 11 frominformation transmitted by the elements. For example, control unit 11may request load data from each of storage units 46, and may derive anaverage load for console 34. Control unit 11 may then generate acomparison metric of the load on each storage unit, relative to theaverage, and unit 11 colors each of the images of units 46 according totheir metric. Thus, unit 11 generates a visual map of the load balancingof units 46. By way of example, load balancing as measured for each bank50 of units 46 is illustrated in diagram 120 of FIG. 3I.

Similar visual maps, using visual features or cues other than colorknown in the art, may be generated to illustrate metrics of specificproperties of console 34. Such properties include free capacity and/oractivity of the storage units, successful hits on the caches of theunits, level of installed redundancy of the units, and other propertiesthat will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In FIG. 3J a diagram130 illustrates a visual map of the free capacity of each of the storageunits 46 in a bank 132 by overlaying and fitting a histogram to theimages of the storage units. In an embodiment of the present invention,the image of each storage unit comprises an image of a LED, and flashingof the LED image is used as a cue to indicate activity of the storageunit: the faster the flashing, the higher the rate of activity of theunit.

As described above, device 26 may be used to perform drag-and-dropoperations between elements of console 34. Such a drag-and-dropoperation is illustrated in FIG. 3K, which shows copying of data from afirst storage unit 46 to a second storage unit 46, by selecting thefirst storage unit, and transferring an image of the unit along a path142 to the second unit.

In FIG. 3L a diagram 150 illustrates how a user of GUI 10 may perform adrag-and-drop operation between elements of different sub-systems 22.The user, such as operator 28, generates image 30 of console 34 on apart 154 of display 12, and an image 152 of another sub-system 22 onanother part 156 of the display. The other sub-system 22 and console 34are typically configured differently. The user may then use thedrag-and-drop operation to copy data from a storage unit of console 34to a storage unit of the other sub-system.

It will be appreciated that the embodiments described above are cited byway of example, and that the present invention is not limited to whathas been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather, the scopeof the present invention includes both combinations and sub-combinationsof the various features described hereinabove, as well as variations andmodifications thereof which would occur to persons skilled in the artupon reading the foregoing description and which are not disclosed inthe prior art.

1. A method for interfacing with a storage system having a plurality ofelements, the elements having a visible relationship with each other,and being coupled to a system control unit including a display, themethod comprising: drawing an image of the elements on the display, theimage having the visible relationship; modifying the image of one of theelements to represent a property of the element; and in response to aninput from a user of the storage system to the system control unit,making a change in the property of the element and representing thechange in the image.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein theimage is a three-dimensional image.
 3. The method according to claim 1,wherein the elements are installed in a console, and wherein the imagecomprises an image of the console.
 4. The method according to claim 1,wherein the elements comprise at least one of an interface module, amanagement module, a non-volatile storage unit, and a power supply. 5.The method according to claim 1, and comprising physically coupling theelements together according to the visual relationship, and conveyingthe visual relationship to the system control unit in response to thephysical coupling.
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein theproperty comprises at least one of a type, a position, and an operatingparameter of the element.
 7. The method according to claim 1, whereinmaking the change in the property comprises at least one of changing aposition of the element, activating the element, deactivating theelement, copying data to the element, reading data from the element,erasure of data from the element, partitioning of the element, andreconfiguration of data within the element.
 8. The method according toclaim 1, wherein the input from the user comprises a signal derived inresponse to the user moving a pointing device.
 9. The method accordingto claim 8, and comprising generating the signal in response to at leastone of positioning the pointing device and clicking a control comprisedin the pointing device.
 10. The method according to claim 1, whereinmaking the change in the property of the element comprises the userperforming a drag-and-drop operation on the image of the element with apointing device coupled to the system control unit.
 11. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the image of the elements appears to theuser as a realistic reproduction of the elements, and wherein modifyingthe image comprises configuring a modification to the image to appear asrealistic to the user.
 12. A graphic user interface for a storage systemhaving a plurality of elements, the elements having a visiblerelationship with each other, and being coupled to a system control unitincluding a display, the interface comprising: a processor which isadapted to: draw an image of the elements on the display, the imagehaving the visible relationship, modify the image of one of the elementsto represent a property of the element, and in response to an input froma user of the storage system to the system control unit, make a changein the property of the element and represent the change in the image.13. The interface according to claim 12, wherein the image is athree-dimensional image.
 14. The interface according to claim 12, andcomprising a console wherein the elements are installed, and wherein theimage comprises an image of the console.
 15. The interface according toclaim 12, wherein the elements comprise at least one of an interfacemodule, a management module, a non-volatile storage unit, and a powersupply.
 16. The interface according to claim 12, and comprisingcouplings which physically connect the elements together according tothe visual relationship, and wherein the processor is adapted to receivethe visual relationship in response to the couplings.
 17. The interfaceaccording to claim 12, wherein the property comprises at least one of atype, a position, and an operating parameter of the element.
 18. Theinterface according to claim 12, wherein making the change in theproperty comprises at least one of changing a position of the element,activating the element, deactivating the element, copying data to theelement, reading data from the element, erasure of data from theelement, partitioning of the element, and reconfiguration of data withinthe element.
 19. The interface according to claim 12, and comprising apointing device which generates the input in response to the user movinga pointing device.
 20. The interface according to claim 19, andcomprising generating the input in response to at least one ofpositioning the pointing device and clicking a control comprised in thepointing device.
 21. The interface according to claim 12, wherein makingthe change in the property of the element comprises the user performinga drag-and-drop operation on the image of the element with a pointingdevice coupled to the system control unit.
 22. The interface accordingto claim 12, wherein the image of the elements appears to the user as arealistic reproduction of the elements, and wherein modifying the imagecomprises configuring a modification to the image to appear as realisticto the user.